Michael Stanton

Michael Stanton News

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drew up its rules limiting sulfur content in gasoline with automakers’ backing, reflecting a new way of doing business for an industry that’s often fought regulators.

U.S. regulators will propose rules before President Barack Obama leaves office requiring vehicle- to-vehicle communications systems in new cars, a move advocates said may aid safety more than seat belts and air bags.

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to say this week it supports a proposal by President Barack Obama’s administration to boost U.S. mileage standards to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 after initially expressing concerns, according to people familiar with the carmaker’s position.

The Republican victories in Congress mean U.S. companies from Goldman Sachs Group Inc . to WellPoint Inc . may be able to weaken or block what they consider President Barack Obama ’s anti-business policies on health care, the environment, taxes and financial reform.

United Continental Holdings Inc. and Delta Air Lines Inc. are among U.S. carriers that will gain as Republicans use their new majority in the House to scrap proposals to limit the outsourcing of maintenance work and to subject global alliances to antitrust enforcement.

Providence Equity Partners Inc. is in the lead to buy Blackboard Inc ., a maker of online educational courseware, a person with knowledge of the situation said. The shares surged as much as 5.5 percent.